2018 Volkswagen Golf GTE Overseas Preview Drive | Volkswagen Injects A Sporty Soul Into Its Plug-In Hybrid
With electrification no longer just a possible future outcome for the automotive industry but a very real and current strategy, brands everywhere are wheeling out near-future electric and plug-in hybrid concepts as a showcase of their dedication to future mobility.
Some brands are already past the concept stage and well and truly into the production phase, with European carmakers seemingly having the jump on their competitors. One of those is Volkswagen, with both a full EV and and a plug in version of the Golf ready to roll from German showrooms.
Not only that, but in order to sex things up a little, Volkswagen’s plug-in solution has been pitched as a member of the GTI family - sort of - with GTE badging suggesting that this green variant is also capable of a certain amount of driving fun.
While some enviro-friendly vehicles have a reputation for being ‘soft’, Volkswagen was keen to show off the capabilities of its green go-getter with a fast-paced cross-country sprint on its home turf, covering the 550km journey from Berlin to Frankfurt.
Vehicle Style: Performance hybrid small hatch
Price: $ 52,990 (estimated)
Engine/trans: 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre 4cyl turbo petrol, 75kW/100Nm electric (150kW/350Nm combined)
Fuel Economy Claimed: 1.6-1.8 l/100km | Tested: 8.1 l/100km (including autobahn use)
OVERVIEW
2017 could be a watershed year for the automotive industry as countries like France and England have made moves to ban internal combustion engines at a set point in the future (2040 is looming as the deadline in most cases) and a range of automotive brands like Volvo and Jaguar having declared that in the very near term all future models will incorporate some kind of electric assistance.